Guidance

Verifying your identity for Companies House

You need to prove who you are to set up, run, own or control a company in the UK.

From:
Companies House
Published
18 March 2025

Why you need to verify your identity

Identity verification is a new legal requirement. It will help to deter people intending to use companies for illegal purposes.

By law, you will need to verify your identity to confirm you are who you claim to be.

This will:

  • reduce the risk of fraud
  • improve transparency, trust and accuracy of information on the Companies House register

Who needs to verify

You’ll need to verify your identity if you are:

  • a director
  • the equivalent of a director – this includes members, general partners and managing officers
  • a person with significant control (PSC)
  • an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) - also known as a Companies House authorised agent
  • someone who files for a company - for example, a company secretary

In most cases, you’ll only need to verify your identity once. You must not verify again unless we tell you to.

When you need to verify

This depends on your role, and when you started that role.

Find out when you need to verify.

Ways to verify your identity

Online

You can verify online if you have the identity documents or information required. This route uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity and is free of charge.

You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID:

GOV.UK One Login will ask you some simple questions to find the best way for you to verify your identity online. Depending on your answers, you’ll then be guided to verify using a GOV.UK mobile phone app or in your web browser.

If you do not have any of these types of ID but live in the UK, you may be able to verify with bank or building society details instead. You’ll need to use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service to find out if you can verify this way.

This service will be available from 8 April 2025.

In person at a Post Office

If you cannot verify online and you live in the UK, you may be able to verify your identity in person at a Post Office. You’ll need to use the ’Verify your identity for Companies House’ service first to find out if you can verify this way. This route uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity and is free of charge.

Find out more about verifying at a Post Office, including what you’ll need.

Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

You can ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify your identity on your behalf. For example, an accountant or solicitor. This is also known as a Companies House authorised agent.

You can do this from any country, but your agent must register with Companies House in order to become authorised. They must be registered with a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body.

When an agent has agreed to verify your identity, you will need to provide documents from an approved list as evidence of your identity. They may charge a fee for their services.

What happens when you verify

When you have successfully verified, you’ll get a unique identifier known as a Companies House personal code. The code is personal to you, not your company or a company you work for.

From autumn 2025, you’ll need it for various reasons. For example:

If you are currently a director or a PSC, you’ll need to use your Companies House personal code to connect your verified identity to our records. This is a legal requirement, and will ensure that we know the correct identity is linked to any roles you hold.

Only share the personal code with people you trust

You may need to share this code with people you trust to file on your behalf, or for your company. Keep this information secure, as you would with other unique codes such as your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for HMRC.

Identity verification makes it much more difficult for criminals to impersonate someone, but not impossible.

How your information is stored and used

To find out how your information is stored and used when you verify your identity with GOV.UK One Login, check the GOV.UK One Login privacy notice.

What you need to do with your Companies House personal code

This depends on your role, and when you started that role.

If you’re a director or PSC, you’ll need to use your Companies House personal code to connect your verified identity to our records for each role you hold. This is part of the legal requirement to verify your identity for Companies House.

Directors

If you’re currently a director, from autumn 2025 you’ll need to provide your personal code as part of your company’s next confirmation statement filing.

If you become a director after autumn 2025, you’ll need to provide it as part of your appointment filing or when you incorporate a company.

People with significant control (PSCs)

You’ll need to provide your personal code to Companies House for your role as a PSC. This requirement will come into force from autumn 2025.

We’ll update this guidance with further details soon.

Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs)

These are also known as Companies House authorised agents. You’ll need to provide your personal code to register as an authorised agent.

What happens if you do not verify

You will not be able to:

  • make any filings
  • start a new company or entity
  • register as an ACSP (also known as a Companies House authorised agent)

If you do not comply with identity verification requirements on time, you will be committing an offence and may have to pay a financial penalty or fine.

Directors

If you continue to act as a director without verifying after it becomes a legal requirement, you will be committing an offence and could be disqualified. The company (or entity) and all directors may also be committing an offence.

People with significant control (PSCs)

If you are (or were) a PSC without verifying after it becomes a legal requirement, you will be committing an offence.

Updates to this page

Published 18 March 2025

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